The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-01-18
A TERRIFIC EXPLOSION.
A SCHOONER DRIVEN UPON THE
ROCKS
Is Deserted By Her Crew, Who
Seek Safety In a Life
boat.
HER CARGO OF 1000 LBS. OF
GIANT POWDER
Explodes, DsmOllshing a Hotel and
Injuries Three Of the Life
Saving Crew.

SAN FRANCISCO, CAL, January 49,
At midnight the Merchants Exchange
received q telephone message from
Point LADIES Signal Station that the
schooner Parrel had been driven on
the rock and probably would prove q
total loss. One hour later another
message wss received that an i'm
meDse quantity OF giant powder
aboard the schooner had blown up,
destroying the Cliff House ard ether
buildings on the shore. Reporters
and police officers were hurIiedly dis.
patched to the scene of the disaste
and the following particulars obtained:
The PsTel sailed Friday last with a
cargo Of general merchandise for Az
torio. She proceeded north until
compel ed by strong winds 10 return.
The wind had died out, AID being
caught by strong tide the vessel was
swept ashore at the south end OF Point
LabeP, side the famous Sea- Rocks,
opposite the Cliff House. The life
saving station people, near by, were
notified aud fastened TO the scene of
the wreck. The captain aud all hands
aboard hao taken to the boats, but as
it was impossible to make landing on
the heavy surf then running, they stood
away for an entrance TO the harbor.
Altsr being abandoned the vessel drift
ed south into small cove, where she
pounded against the rocks. 1t Yves
known that she had a large quantity
Of powder aboard, but no danger was
apprehended. The men from the life
saving station seeing nothing could
be done, the schooner having besn
abandoned by her officers, Withdrew
a few minutes before 10 O'Clock from
the fcene. They had hardly reached
the station building when fearful ex-
plosion occurred The schooner in
beating against the rocks had caused
the powder to ignite, and the entire
quantity aboard, nearly 100000
pounds, had exploded. To those
living in the neighborhood the effect
was frightful. The life saving station
was also wrecked, and west of Gift
House, Notwithstanding its elevation,
was blown out. A large concert room
on the beach, and other buildings
lower down, had all their windows
broken. The long carriage shed ad.
joining the Cliff House was tumbled
into mess OF ruins. Adolph Zettid's
conservatory, on the1heights above,
was scattered to atoms, and ell the win
dows in the heuse broken. Three
members OF the life saving crew, who
built the FIRE on the beach and
decided to remain near the wreck,
were hurled into the air by the
conclusion and severely injured. The
remaining members OF the crew, who
had returned to the station, rushed to
the rescue OF the injured, as it was
feared their close proximity to the
explosion must have resulted to their
injury. They were carried to the sta
ton, where medical attention was
summoned. Horace Smith had his
limb 30 disjointed az to make his suf.
erings intense. For time his lie was
despaired OF. The two'others,i Charles
Rogers and John Wilson, escaped
with lees serious injuries. Capt.
Hsyslop, In command of the life
saving station, describes the explosion
US follows:'
Eat l O'Clock the sleepers were
thrown from their beds by the ex-
plosiop, which made them think the
great earthquake had appeared. A
great wave dashed up and vaulted
over the Gift House building The
whole shore and cliff literally trem-
bled and shook as no earthquake has
shaken the earth for years. The peo-
Pile were thrown from their beds by
the force OF TIE explosion, and the
furniture aud bedstesds were tossed
and hespsd about the room. The
famous Cliff House presents scene
beyond description"
AS nothing has bsen seen or heard
OF the Captain aud crew of the
schooner mp 10 daylight, fears were
entertained as to their safety. These,
however, were disrelled on their srri-
val this morning on the ferry boat
from Sancelbath. On their taking to
the email boat the tide YVES 80 strong
that they were carried to Ssncelbath
before they could make landing.
The Captain could not be seen, but
Peter Harsen, one Of tie crew, made
the following statement tonight:
When the Captain resizsd the dan
ger OF his position he cast anchor, but
1t would not hold. As soon as the
schooner struck, and knowing the
dangerous character OF the cargo, Re
lowered the boat and we all left the
vessel. AS it was impossible TO make
landing, the Captain ordered the
boat to head for the Golden Gate, and
the tide carried us to Suaslits. The
powder was shipped by Neil & Go. for
railroad construction.
The vessel wss obliterated, a few
pieces Of floating wrecksge being all
that can be seen. She was valued at
$1,000 and owned by S. Berlison, of
this city; insurance $500. The ex-
plosion was 80 terrific ii was supposed
an Immense number a seals were
killed by conclusion. Two dead seals
only have been seen. A Iumor Ia
current that The explosion was caused
by an internal mschine. The explo.
sion was distinctly heard at Oakland,
San joe and even al far as Sacrament
to, a distance of 100 miles. Capt Jor-
dan, Of the ship Commodore, which
arrived from Port Discovery, says they
felt the shock fifteen miles. The in
iured life saving men are progressing
fayorably and will recover.